94 Cutlass stereo and hvac controls on the steering wheel

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[oldsfever]

I hope someone can help because I'm at my wits end and ready to give up. The stereo and HVAC steering wheel controls have not worked since I got the car. I replaced the stereo because the one in it was trashed. I put in a new tum signal harness because the turn signals weren't working. I've gone back and forth over the wiring and cannot find anything out of the ordinary. I'm wondering if there is a separate cable that connects to the stereo for these controls. I have an empty socket on the stereo but that doesn't make sense that it would keep the HVAC controls from working too. I've read through the service manual several times, checking the voltage as much as I could understand. I've also browsed the web with no success.

I currently have the dash pad off because I was checking the wiring and installing new front speakers.

Any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks, Ronnie

[Jay]

Yes, there is a wire that goes to the stereo, green if I recall correctly. It plugs into the separate plug in the back of the stereo (not with the other three). Did you replace the stereo with the original type?

Did you get the correct turn signal harness? There's two. One with SWC and one without.

When you replaced the TSS, did you plug everything back in?

[oldsfever]

Yes, I got a stereo just like the one I took out. I got the turn signal/wiper harness (UK3) with the extra wire that connects to the clockspring cable. I've double/triple checked that everything is plugged in. I do not have the 4th wire to plug into the back of the stereo though. I have an empty 4 ping socket on the radio is what got me wondering. I do not remember taking the one out of the old radio either. If there is suppose to be one, then I guess I can continue the hunt for it. Do you know if it is in the same harness as the rest of the radio wires?

Thanks for your reply. It helps me think I'm on the right track.

[Jay]

Should be a dark green wire. I think there's only 1 wire in the entire connector like it is in my van (been a long time since I've played with these cars) but I could be wrong there since my van only has radio controls and not HVAC controls.

[oldsfever]

I got someone to help me and we checked the wiring, made sure it was connected properly, and it still doesn't work. The thing it does now is when the keyswitch and the radio is off and you press any of the buttons on the steering wheel, the radio comes on as long as you hold the button down. Very strange. I'm thinking it's shorted or crosswired somewhere but who really knows. I swapped out the clockspring with one that was suppose to be for this car but you couldn't read the label so I'm wondering about that now. The old one was broken and didn't allow the steering wheel to rotate properly.


Thanks for the responses. I'll keep playing and let you know if I make any progress. As always, any ideas are appreciated.

[Jay]

I'd say now your SWCs need to be replaced.

[oldsfever]

Jay, You're probably correct. I've looked around the web and at some parts houses with no luck. I bet they are almost impossible to find and my luck at junk yards lately has been about the same. I'm about ready to just replace the steering wheel with one that doesn't have the controls so they will be out of sight and out of mind. I'm a little OCD like that. But hey, it's the weekend and who knows what I might come up with.

Thanks for your help and have a good weekend.

[Jay]

Well, you can look at other oldsmobiles, not just Cutlass Supremes for them too. 88 and 98 had SWC with ECC. As well as Aurora, but it's a gamble as I don't know if they will work with a CS ECC, I do have an 88/98 FSM so I can see later if they use the same SWC. 88 and 98s are usually owned by old people that took care of them, so finding a nice set won't be impossible.

[oldsfever]

Thanks, I found an 88 steering column that included the wheel an controls and after looking into it found out it was compatible. That's the route that I will probably end up gong with and try to sell the unused parts. It was tan and I need maroon but a little paint will make it close. I'm going to keep looking and maybe one will turn up. Until then I turned over the radio controlling to my copilot. She doesn't mind. ha ha
Thanks again for your reply.

[oldsfever]

It's all a moot point now. Coming home from the lake on Sunday the engine went up in smoke leaving a 50 yd. oil trail on IH-35. I'm thinking about putting a 3.1 instead of the 3.4 back in it. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Jay]

I'd get an entire parts car if going that route. There's a lot of little things you'll need and making 20 trips to the junkyard is fun, but not practical.

[oldsfever]

That's a good idea. I'll keep an eye out for one that someone might be parting out. I like the junk yard but after the 3rd trip you feel like you belong there.

[oldsfever]

I'm still searching for an engine. I've given up on the 3.1 swap as from what I've read and discussed, it seems like more pain than it's worth. I've found a few but they are way out there in price, 100K for $1600 plus shipping seems a bit excessive to me. I've found another that is somewhat reasonable, 90K for $900 with shipping included from a place called Masters Auto Shipping. Has anyone ever heard of them?

Any help is appreciated.
Post Merge: October 19, 2011, 08:46:47 AMThe search is over. After I posted this and one in the parts wanted topic, I found a rebuilt here locally for $2K. Hopefully I'll have her on the road again in a couple of weeks.